JAY'S (Smile Mail)
P.O. Box 2075
Fountain Gate 3805
Melbourne - Victoria - Australia
****
************
G'day everyone - sorry it has been a few weeks since I have updated, but since I have arrived home from Sydney (after my Brave Heart Award) I have had so much on with media, newspapers and of course with School, so I am very sorry it has taken me a while to getting around to do an update. My days have been consumed each day and I have not had a chance to get to the computer. Thank you everyone who is concerned about me - I am ok just darsly and I have been very busy. I certainly have not forgotten any one and I think of all my friends each day and this weekend I will get around to see how you all are.
What's been happening - Well lots and lots and I am not sure where to start first. My first day back at school after I got home from Sydney was great, I had a special assembly where the principal announced I had won the award and I spent the day with Shannon Noll (that was do cool) and none of the kids believed me so when the first article came out on 22nd Dec in Take 5 magazine I had to take it to school and show everyone and then they believed me. They also put it in our Maraba Flyer which is a newspaper we have at school (I have made lots of friends) friends I did not have before (strange).
Graduation - I have graduated - yes I have as you can see above is my GRADUATION certificate stating I have graduated from Primary School (how cool). On Tuesday 12th we had a big ceremony - it was at night time at the Berwick Church. All us kids got dressed up, all the teacher were dressed up in suits and ties and we had an awards ceremony - more on the graduation is below.
JAY & SHANNON NOLL on front cover of Take 5 issue 13th December 06
On December 13th I was in the take 5 magazine again for the second time - there are lots of photos of Shannon and me and my darsly mum. I am on the front cover and it says exclusive for a reason (which I am not aloud to tell yet) and it says Shannon Nolls tears. The exclusive is not in this issue - the exclusive will be in the 1st issue after Christmas which comes out on Wednesday 3rd January - so you will all have to buy it to find out the secret (which I already know now) but can't tell because of it being exclusive to Take 5 magazine - all I can say is it is a wonderful secret and I love Shannon very much for what he has done for me.
JAY & SHANNON NOLL
The photo above I picked as a favorite of mine because it is natural and Shannon was showing me fish and telling me how he goes fishing. Being with my mate Shannon Noll was the thrill of my life. Shannon and I got along like we had known each other for ever (best mates) and he is such an easy person to get a long with (a real person) what you see is what you get, Shannon is a True Blue Aussie who has never let fame get to him (not like many other celebrities). Shannon will always be my mate - friends forever. My Brave Heart award has brought so much awareness to my cause which is NEUROBLASTOMA, so many people have been asking about my illness and about my T-Shirts and Wristbands. After we got back from Sydney the following day there was the final of Australian Idol (Shannon was singing) and he had my Wristband on - darsly spoke with his agent and she said that Shannon was hoping you would see the wristband on his wrist that is why he wore it and will always wear it and think of his mate Jay.
JAY & MR.MULLINS (Principal)
My graduation night - I was so very excited to be graduating (finishing Primary School) and hey Doctors you all said I would never make it - would never go to school - bla bla bla - I not only went to school, I completed every year with top marks and now I have graduated and going to Secondary school in 2007. So hey you guys out there, don't ever let anyone you can't do something or you can't achieve something because you certainly can. You proof them all wrong just as I have in all the things I do in life that I was told I would never do. I am very proud of myself, I have had a tougher time than most of the kids at school, I missed a lot of school because of illness through out the years but I never fell behind (not once) I completed everything even through tough times. The photo above is of me and my Principal Mr. Mullins (he's cool) and me holding my graduation certificate.
JAY & MR.GOUGE (Teacher)
This one above is of me and my teacher Mr. Gouge (he is a cool dude) as well, I wished I had him all year but as you know I had another teacher through out the year and finally darsly had me tranferred to Mr. Gouge and he is the best. He is tough but so am I and I enjoy being in his class (even though we only have a few more days to go).
JAY & MICK (My best Mate)
My mate MICK - what can I say - we fight a lot, but then we are mates again and we Graduated together on Tuesday night which was cool. We not only got our Graduation certificate we also got a medal (which is around our neck) and a Pen. I will be going to the same seconday school and Mick so we will always be friends and see each other - and he only lives around the corner so I can go and annoy him in the school holidays.
JAY & MADISON (My prep Buddy)
NOW I bet you are all wondering who this little cutie is. Well at my school seeing I am in year six we are assigned a Prep Buddy. As a grown child with responsibilities I must take care of my Prep Buddy all year. My little Prep Buddy for the year was MADISON (She loves me) and I make sure Madison is not bullied and I take care of her and teach her lots of things through the year. Madison has a twin sister but only Madison was my prep buddy. I will miss her lots and I know she will miss me lots as I will not be at Maramba next year but I am sure I will see her as I will always walk passed Maramba and say hello. This photo was at my Graduation - her brother Jake he was graduating as well and Madison wanted a photo with me. Can you tell I am kneeling - yes I am I am on my knees because Madison is only little. (I will miss you Madison)
JAY & CHANNEL 7 FILM CREW
The Alfred Hospital - Now how cool is this. All the staff at the emergency department of the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne know that I love Medical Emergency which is a show on here in Australia (they film real medical emergencies) well anyway my darsly had her appointment at the Alfred Hospital on the 7 the December and guess who was there (All the Channel 7 crew they were filming Medical Emergency). I was taken around by the Production Manager to see all the stuff that most people don't get to see - I got to go into one of the theatres, saw all the medical equipment, I was show the Hyperbaric Chamber. Dr. Gim Tan (consultant) who always appears on Medical Emergency showed me around too (he is so cool) and then the best part the camera crew came to see me and I got to hold the camera (see above) I am holding the very expensive Channel 7 Camera along side is Channel 7 cameras Crew. This was the best day ever and they invited me back anytime to come watch them all film. Sometimes the days are long and they have to wait for a trauma to come in (not something you want to happen) but it does and they have to be on the scene straight away to film it. Each time I go to the Alfred I draw them a picture, they have all my pictures up on a wall in the Emergency department and everyone comments on how good they are. NOW you ask, what about darsly mum, well she did not get the news she wanted, it has been a very difficult year for us, and darsly has not been aloud to work which has made it very hard. She had a CT Scan of her back and the surgeon Mr. Hunt said that the bone graft has not congealed meaning it is still in little tiny fragments, and until it congeals together she cannot work. Darlsy was not happy, being Christmas is is really hard, I know how much darsly worries about paying bills and things and it has been really tough keeping a roof over our head because darlsy has not been aloud to work, but we have each other and that is all that matters. Darsly wanted good news so we could have a good Christmas but she did not get that news and she is not happy. The surgeon said she cannot work for atleast another 4 - 6 months. We are struggling, I try to help, I wish I was older so I could go out to work to earn some money to pay the bills but I am not old enough. Darsly told me not to worry, we have lots of love and that's all that matters. Darlsy said Christmas will not be much this year and I said it didn't matter. Darsly goes back to have another CT Scan on 5th March, but until then she is not aloud to work. Lets hope the scan is better on that day. The scan she just had done there was no change from the first scan she had 3 months ago, and darsly said that is not good, why is it not getting any better. The surgeon said it takes time for the graft to congeal, it has to be solid but it is still in little bone fragments. Darlsy asked is it going to congeal or is it going to never mend? the surgeon said he hopes it mends. Then darsly said what if it doesn't - the surgeon just looked and said, we will see in three months. Typical doctor answer.
JAY & SCHOOL MATES ON BIKE RIDE
Lysterfield Bike Ride - As part of our Graduation we have been getting to lots of cool things - on Thursday 14th December we did the Lysterfield Lake Bike Ride (real hard). Darlsy came along and did the ride (yes she did) even though doctors said no darsly does it anyway (good on ya darsly ). We rode all the way from our School to Lysterfield lake which is a very very long ride, up hills down hills - more up hills than down. It was a very hot day of 35 degrees and smoke everywhere from the horrific bushfires we are having which are surrounding us at the moment - we live very close to the bad fires. We finally made it to Lysterfield where we stopped for snack time. Then we all had to do the big ride around the dirt tracks. WOW a huge hill the legs were getting sore but we all made it. On the way we saw an Echidna (just like my porka) he was crossing the path so we stopped to let him go by. This is thick bushland it is a national park so there are lots of wild animals such as Kangaroos and koalas and Echidnas's. This was a long ride and we made it back to the picnic ground where we were all exhausted. We had lunch and then we had an option to do a harder ride around the track or go for a walk - only a few of us took the hard ride, most of the kids did not want to tackle the next ride. Darlsy and I tackled the next ride along with some of my mates, my teacher Mr. Gouge and my Sports teacher Mr. Hunter. Well, Mr. Hunter put an extra huge hill in this time (it was vertical) and I made it to the top without getting off my bike. My legs were hurting, I was in so much pain but I kept going side by side with Mr. Hunter and made it to the top. Then the fun part we got to go real fast back down the hill. A couple of kids came off their bikes and hurt themselves, as we are riding on lose stones and dirt the bikes skidded out from under them - they had to go back to the picnic ground but we continued on. What a ride, we finally made it back to the picnic ground. The teachers aloud us to go into the LAKE to get our feet wet and cool off seeing it is 35 degrees. Then we had the big ride back to school, we were all so glad to get back to school. It was a great day it took from 9 am in the morning until 3pm in the afternoon, so there will be some aching legs tomorrow. I got home with darsly and we were both exhausted and we went to bed at 8am that is how tired we were.
Resting after the long Bike ride with my mates JAY-MICK-LUKE-KEEGAN
SCHEDULE:
Monday 18th Have myGraduation Luncheon at Malaleuca Lodge
Tuesday 19th We go to the Movies for Graduation
Wednesday 20th Part of Graduation is Games day.
Wednesday 20th December (YIPPEE) School is over until 31st January 2007
My Health - Things have been ok, but I still have many bad headaches, leg pains. This week although I have been getting in there and doing lots of things because I did not want to miss out I have been struggling with the headaches. I had a bad one yesterday but I did not want to miss out on the bike ride so I got that strength and determination going and I did it even though I did not feel the best. I see my Oncology doctor in the new year - see what's happening, Still have the spot on T- 11 - T12, which sits dormant so we will see in the new year as to what is doing. I like to get on with my life and live it to the full no matter what. Even though I don' t feel the best sometimes I just never give up, and never give in to pain - I get out there and I do it. I am not feeling that well today I have real bad headaches, sore throat, sniffy nose but I am sure I will get over it.
Neuroblastoma Getting the Awareness out there about Neuroblastoma is what I am about, I am an expert you could say because I know what it is like to FIGHT this Monster of a CANCER and I know what its like to WIN son far. Not many Neuroblastoma kids get the chance to know what it is like to WIN the battle because far too many of them are taken by this horrible cancer. Getting people out there to know the word Neuroblastoma and what it is, is not easy because all they know about is the most common cancers which are always highlighted and have much more backing and they say that is because so many more people have those other types of cancer. WELL I thought about that and I believe that all cancers should be supported no matter what because I surely don't want a lot of children getting Neuroblastoma, I don't want any more children to suffer. Why wait until more kids get it before you support it and get it known out there in the world - get it known now - find a cure now so no more children have to go through what I have had to and what so many others have to. Do I have to give a full run down of the horrific things us NB kids have to go through before people stand up, the government stand up and start supporting Neuroblastoma. I can tell some really horrible things about myself and what has occurred in hospital over the years, it has not been a nice experience at all and the stuff I have to go through I do not wish upon anyone. Cancer kids such as myself are always happy, we have to be, we are tough that is what people see but what they don't see is the behind the scenes stuff of what I and others have to go through in hospital and sometimes at home. People see us kids running around being happy, they respond by saying OH you don't look sick which is a saying I hate so much. Sometimes if someone says that, I ask them to go visit the cancer ward and they would see kids just like me with smiles on their faces but it gives them a reality check of what our lives are truly like.
MY AIM - I am doing everything I can to help find a cure to Neuroblastoma. Running Tri Athlons is one way I raise money for research (why do I do that) because I can, and it is not hard to do and I enjoy Tri Athlons and other runs which I participate in. I also have my T-Shirts and Wrist Bands, what ever money I raise is added on to the total for Neuroblastoma Research, and the more I sell of course the more money I raise. All I get from this is the satisfaction of knowing I have done something to save the life of a Neuroblastoma Child and even saving the life of myself. It puts a smile on my dile (face) to know I have done something good and a great part of it was being recognized for what I am doing and what I have gone through. Receiving the Brave Heart Award was wonderful, I now know that people appreciate what I have gone through and what I am doing to make a difference. I will keep up my efforts, I will raise as much money as I can. Please help by donating to Neuroblastoma research or purchasing one of my T-Shirts or Wristbands. Also another way you can help is donating blood and bone marrow - OH yes these are two very vital things in the treatment of Neuroblastoma. Please take the time to donate and by doing so you will be saving the life of one - two or more children or adults.
FIRES - I just want to mention the horrific FIRES we have here in Victoria Australia which are only down the road from us. For the past 2 weeks we have been surrounded by fires, the skies are covered in smoke, you cannot see 10 meters in front of you some days, you cannot see any blue sky. The days have been very Hot temperatures in the height 30's and the weather has been very erratic making it very difficult for the fire fighters. Our house stinks of smoke, it is horrible, we are coughing, have really sore throats sore eyes and can't breath. The hardest part is we have no water, it is a big drought here and we are on water restrictions meaning the dams are empty, lakes are empty and water is needed to put the fires out. The fire fighters each time they think they have it under control, the wind changes and causes it to jump containment lines. Our fire fighters are so very brave and putting their lives at risk. Many homes have been lost and we are not in our hot fire weather yet, this is just the start of the fire seasons. Please everyone send a pray to all the fire fighters here in Australia (Victoria) where we live and pray they will put these fires out with no lives being lost - THANK YOU.
My Friends - I would like to remember my little friends who did not make it this year, and would like you all to think of the families at this time as it will be the first year without their little ones. There are too many unfortunately to mention (a figure that should not be) but some of my true little friends who are now wonderful ^Angels^ who I would like you to go visit and leave a message to just let the families know you have not forgotten them are:
Angel Skyler * Angel Kadin * Angel Emily * Angel Navada * Angel Tyler
My other little friends, please stay strong and positive always, although we go through a tough battle you must always stay positive and strong and live each day to the full and treasure every moment. Keep a smile on your dile (face) always and never - ever give up. To the parents, you have to do the same - please always be positive, negative thoughts are not good and should be thrown out. Stay strong for your kids - us kids are the strong ones keeping you all together, we are the sick ones but still we pick you all up when you are down. Don't you see us always happy, then you should be happy too. I know it is not nice having cancer, but it doesn't have to be sad. Live for today, live for the moment, hug each other, tell each other you love your loved ones every single day and be thank full you are here to share another day and never give up because giving up is not an option.
Please don't forget to stop by my GUEST BOOK and leave me a message so I know you ave visited me. I love to read my messages and when I can I do write back if requested.
**JAY**
www.jaysjourney.org
Sign my Guestbook
View my Guestbook
JAY'S (Smile Mail) 
Given IV infusion(Steroid - Dexamethasone)(Metronidazole)
The photo above was taken at this weeks School Christmas Concert on the bare grass of the school oval. Yes we are in a big drought here in Australia and we are surrounded by bush fires so there is no green grass anywhere to be seen, it is all bare, crunchy, Aussie land. 
As you all know - Jay is a big fan of Medical Emergency which is a live TV show about medical traumas which occur at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne and Jay got to hang out with the crew a few weeks ago when we were there - well Christopher Gabardi who is an Actor here in Australia and stars on Jays other favorite show All Saints (a medical show) and who is the Voice Over of Medical Emergency delighted Jay with some wonderful gifts and wrote him the most wonderful letter which I was going to scan and put up on the sight but his writing is very small and hard to read so I put up the photo which he has written on for Jay stating - Dear Jay, keep up your amazing work! Your a true champion. Best wishes Christopher Bardi. The letter he wrote stated he was truly amazed at Jays website and will be checking on Jay each and everyday - he has also been invited to spend more time with the crew at the Alfred, so all this put a big smile on his face and I thank you Christopher for cheering Jay up at a time which he is not very well. 
The kids all got to let their hair down - end of year - end of Primary School and the wonderful School Christmas Concert (of course outdoors - this is Australia it is HOT here). 
The very last day at Primary School, the kids had a special assembly to say farewell to all the year 6 students (includes JAY) . This photo is of Jay and his mate Keegan and his sister (so cute) . The kids have worked really hard through out the year, it has been difficult for Jay having so many days away from school due to illness, but he is such a resilient kid and I am so very proud of him getting TOP marks on his end of year report - it could not get any better he is one very smart boy - top marks for every subjects. 
A big smile - and relief it is all over for the year - 
Just thinking and reflecting on the year that was and is looking forward to starting year 7 at Secondary School in 2007. 
.jpg){kind=link}